It’s Time to Change Your Password

We hear it all the time. Emails from LinkedIn and Facebook ask us to change our passwords. When we login to site, we’re prompted to change the credentials when we login into our email accounts. And yet, security breaches happen all the time, leaving millions of Americans vulnerable to attack.

Yahoo has the been the latest online platform to issue a decree. Half a billion accounts were left vulnerable, prompting many organizations, including the White House to take action.

Is online security really such a big deal? Naked Security offers a scary number on recent breaches: Tumblr (65 million user email addresses and passwords), 164 million LinkedIn passwords, and 427 million passwords from MySpace.

Clearly this issue has reached national attention. And the White House has taken note.

A new study has found that more than 70% of Americans feel safe online. But with identity attacks happening every minute, clearly perceptions need to be adjusted.

Last month, the White House urged all Americans to take higher precautions. With the release of a new campaign titled Lock Down Your Login, the initiative hopes to draw attention to the simple and effective ways you can secure your online presence. They offer simple solutions to users like participating in a biometric security or requiring a 1-time code to access certain sites.

The campaign’s driving mission is simple. Your username and login password are not enough to keep you safe. It’s pertinent that you enlist the help of additional security measures.

The campaign is the first to arrive on a national level that addresses security. It’s also framed in a light-hearted and engaging tone with the hope that the promotion will attract users of all ages and all stages of internet understanding.

The Three-Step Way to Secure Your Sites

The easiest way to prevent attacks is to change your password, especially if it’s been a while. Second, make sure all of your passwords across your sites are different. Finally, if possible, utilize a platform’s 2-step authentication process.

Keeping your online sites secure should be a top priority. And with a push from the White House, one can hope we move towards adopting safer policies as a nation.